Surprising Things That Can Damage Your Liver

Too much sugar isn’t just bad for your teeth. It can harm your liver, too. The organ uses one type of sugar, called fructose, to make fat. Too much refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup causes a fatty buildup that can lead to liver disease. Some studies show that sugar can be as damaging to the liver as alcohol, even if you’re not overweight. It’s one more reason to limit foods with added sugars, such as soda, pastries, and candy.

Even if the label says “natural,” it may not be OK for you. For instance, some people take an herb called kava kava (or just "kava") for menopause symptoms or to help them relax. But studies show that it can keep the liver from working right. That can lead to hepatitis and liver failure. Some countries have banned or restricted kava, but it’s still available in the U.S. You should always talk to your doctor before you take any supplements to make sure they’re safe.

The extra fat can build up in your liver cells and lead to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which used to be called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). As a result, your liver may swell. Over time, it can harden and scar liver tissue (doctors call this cirrhosis). You are more likely to get MASH if you are overweight or have obesity, are middle-aged, or have diabetes. You may be able to turn things around. Diet and exercise can often help stop the disease and may even reverse some of the damage.

Your body needs vitamin A, and it’s fine to get it from foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those that are red, orange, and yellow. But if you take supplements that have high doses of vitamin A, that can be a problem for your liver. Check with your doctor before you take any extra vitamin A because you probably don’t need it.

Research shows that people who drink a lot of soft drinks are more likely to have MASH. Studies don’t prove that the drinks were the direct cause. But if you down a lot of sodas and have been meaning to cut back, this could be a good reason to switch.

You’ve got a sore back, or a headache, or a cold, and you reach for a pain reliever. Be sure to take the right amount! If you accidentally take too much of anything that has acetaminophen -- for instance, a pill for your headache and something else for your cold, and both have acetaminophen in it -- it can harm your liver. Check the dose and how much is OK to take in one day. Stick to those limits, and you should be fine.

Trans fats are a human-made fat in some packaged foods and baked goods. (You’ll see them listed as “partially hydrogenated” ingredients). A diet high in trans fats makes you more likely to gain weight. That’s not good for your liver. Check the ingredients list. Even if it says 0 grams of trans fat, it may still have a small amount, and that adds up.

A doctor or nurse gets nicked by a needle they’ve used on a patient. Or people injecting illegal drugs share a needle. The needle isn’t the problem. It’s what’s on it. Hepatitis C can spread through blood. Everyone should be tested at least once in a lifetime after the age of 18. 

You probably already know that drinking too much is bad for your liver. But you might not realize that “too much” can happen without you having alcohol use disorder or being addicted to alcohol. It’s easy to drink more than you think. Many glasses can hold a lot more than one standard serving, which is 5 ounces of wine (that’s a little more than half a cup), 12 ounces of regular beer, or 1.5 ounces of liquor. If you drink, be sure to keep it moderate -- that’s one drink a day for women and up to two per day for men. Experts say there's no safe drinking level.